Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-03

central than any other town situated on
ravicable water. May, 1850, Thomas
Jefferson. then Governor, Archibald
Cary, Robert Carter Nicholas, Richard
Adams, Edmund Randolph, Turner
SouthaI, Robert Goode, James b.
chanan, and Samuel Du Val We're APP
pointed directors to select and lay off
the six whole acres of ground appro-
priated to the use and purpose of the
public buildings.
CAPITOL SQUARE.
This oct located the public buildings
on Shockoe Hill, and the land embraced
in the Capitol Square was purchased
and paid for from funds out of the pub
lie Treasury. 1t has been stated, and
was for long time believed, that the
Capitol Square was donated by Colonel
Byrd To the Commonwealth. and that it
would revert to his heirs in the event
the capital should be removed from
Richmond. This is net so. A few
years ago the original wIits of dd quod
ddmnum and other documents giving
to the Commonwealth a clear title to
TIE land were found, and are now on
record in the clerks office of Henrico
County CONT.
The directors also purchased in the
same manner fifteen additional acres
from Dr. Philip Turpin. making thirty
acres in all. These lands extended on
the north to the present line OF Broad
street ana on the east to Shockoe creek.
Temporary buildings for the accommo-
dation of the Legislative and executive
departments of the government were
soon afterwards erected.
THE OLD CAPITOL.
The old Capitol was located near the
northwest corner of Fourteenth and
Cary streets the Governors mansion
was ON the present site of st. Luke's
Home, and the department buildings,
including the Council chamber, were
on Council Chamber Hill, from which
it derived the name by which it is
known at this time. The courts were
held in the courthouse OF Henrico
county. At later day it was found
that so much land was unnecessary for
the purposes intended, and the direc'
tors were authorized to sell all the lots
not now embraced in the Capitol Square,
In August, 1881, Richmond was in
vaded by the troops under Benedict
Arnold, and many buildings were de-
stroyed by fire. This sudden irruptior
of the enemy was of great damage tC
the city in many ways and considerably
retarded its growth.
CITY.
In May, 1882, the General Assembly
passed an act incorporating Richmond
as city. This act provides for the
election of "twelve fit and able men
being freeholders and inhabitants o.
said city," who should from among
themselves elect mayor, recorder, anc
four aldermen. The other six were K
serve as a common council. The RICH
to vote was confined to the freeholderl
of lots within the city, whether thu
owner resided therein or not the house
keepers and inhabitants who had re
sided therein for three months, and thu
owners of movable or immovable pro
perry within the city Of the value Of one
hundred pounds.
FIRST CITY ELECTION.
On Tuesday, July 2, 1852, an election
was held under the superintendent o
Turner Southall and Gabriel Gait a
the county court house, when the fol
lowing persons were elected, receiving
the number OF votes after each name
Isaac Younghusband, GO votes; vii
liam Hay, So; James Hunter, So; Ko
bert Mitchell, Sc; William Fourshee
Do; Richard Adams, 90; James Blu
chanan, 40; Samuel Scherer, 46; Ro
bert Poyd, 43; Jacquelin Amber, Al
John Beckley, 80 and John McKeand
SO. The next day the aboye-namet
persons met at the courthouse, an,
elected William Foushee rs mayor
William Hay, recorder Jacqnelin Am
bier, John Beckley, Robert Mitchell
and James Hunter, aldermen. Thes
twelve constituted what was long know
| rs the Common Hall.
The Mayor, Recorder, and Aldermen
exercised judicial functions, and, il
| connection with the Common Council
| made laws for the city.
Adam Craig was elected clerk OF tha
Ccmnon Hall during good behavior